Flames 2014 Training camp - rookies report Sept 11, main camp opens Sept 18

[FBI]

So what the heck happened to backlund? That's a sucky way to start the season

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by FBI

So what the heck happened to backlund? That's a sucky way to start the season

From the article on the Flames site, it said he injured it training a couple days ago. Hartley was saying same article that he didn't want him out there "90-95%" so
It doesn't sound too serious.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Drury18

From the article on the Flames site, it said he injured it training a couple days ago. Hartley was saying same article that he didn't want him out there "90-95%" so
It doesn't sound too serious.

Sucks. Didn't he injure his finger at the end of camp a few years ago and never really caught up?

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Sucks. Didn't he injure his finger at the end of camp a few years ago and never really caught up?

Yes, broke his finger I think last practice before the start of the 2011 season and had surgery due to the severity. Pretty sure it was his shooting hand and that's why he struggled in the season. Sounds like his injury now is more abdominal strain/pull and once healed it shouldn't be an issue. They are making the right choice having him sit and 100% heal then pushing him through at 90% and risking reinjury or further aggravation.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by fbi

so what the heck happened to backlund? That's a sucky way to start the season

[Mr.Coffee]

With the amount of young talent out there at this camp, the rookies are probably frothing at the mouth when a regular gets injured.

[Yanda]

Where does everyone see Paul Byron fitting in?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Where does everyone see Paul Byron fitting in?

Probably the 13th forward. He can slot in any line and not look bad with his motor.

[JetsFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by kehatch

????? < Cammalleri
Raymond = Stempniak
Setoguchi > Galiardi
Engelland = Butler
Hiller > Berra
Bollig > Westgarth

It is tough to argue that Calgary's roster got any better. With the departure of Cammalleri we got worse at forward. D is pretty even. Hiller should help at goalie, but Ramo was pretty darn good last season.

It was the right thing to do. But I don't think we got better this summer. Not in the short term.

Raymond had exactly as many points as Cammalleri last season playing on Toronto's 3rd line FYI (or 2nd line? I don't really watch the Leafs). I agree Setoguchi is an upgrade and Hiller definitely is too. I'm not sure how much better we got, but we definitely didn't get worse! I'm more excited for this season than I was for the 2005/06 season! Drop the puck already!!

[DOOM]

Yea, Raymond definitely had a better year then Stempniak.

[djsFlames]

Raymond can be considered a 20 goal guy. Stempniak had what, 8 goals during his season in calgary? Since Galiardi did nothing I'd compare Seto to Stempniak and if he shows up this season then that would be a wash. So Raymond gets compared to Cammy. That's a 6 goal differential, can Monahan, a health Glencross and the rookies replace the rest? I think they can and more.

We didn't get worse. Collectively we're about even keel with last year. And if Johnny Hockey turns out to be an offensive machine for us this year and can dish passes on the PP like he did for US at the world championships, then we could be better on the scoring side than last year.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Where does everyone see Paul Byron fitting in?

As it stands he's competing for the 13 forward with Baertschi, Gaudreau, Granlund, Ferland, and Reinhart at least

[Nehkara]

Here we go

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Here we go

Use this new thread today.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by edslunch

As it stands he's competing for the 13 forward with Baertschi, Gaudreau, Granlund, Ferland, and Reinhart at least

Byron is competing for a spot, including as the 13th or 14th forward.

However, none of those other guys are - it is crack the line-up or play in Adirondack for now, I would think. Sitting in the press box isn't the way to develop them.

[MissTeeks]

Baertschi's Fresh Start: He's Older, Wiser, Stronger and More Mentally Tough

http://flamesfrom80feet.blogspot.ca/...der-wiser.html

Sven Baertschi says he's a changed player. Now it's time for him to pull on a Flames jersey, get out on the ice and show it.

Baertschi is expected to be in one of the line-ups Sunday night when Calgary kicks off a busy nine-game preseason with a pair of split-squad games against the Oilers -- one in Edmonton, and one at the Saddledome.

"Mentally, I'm a different player," says Baertschi, who I caught up with Saturday afternoon at WinSport. "I'm still the same player on the ice, I'm just more grown up, I've learned more and I understand the game better."

"Through those tough times that I had, maybe they have to be there to make sure I understand how much it actually takes to play in this league," Baertschi says. "Maybe it was a good thing certain things went wrong, for me to really get going and speed up the learning process and speed up the mental toughness."

"With those eight weeks that I missed, I had to put even more work in. I pretty much worked my ass off this summer," says Baertschi. "Not being able to train for that long period bothered me so I had to get back at it. That's one of the reasons why I came down here to Calgary so early this year. To get going with Ryan (van Asten) and especially to also get to know Ryan."

Ryan van Asten, a graduate of the University of Calgary, who has worked in the past for Hockey Canada, is the Flames new strength and conditioning coach. He was poached from the Los Angeles Kings during the off-season.

"I loved Rich (Hesketh) before, I loved what he did with us, but with Ryan, it's a little bit different," says Baertschi. "It's huge for me to come in here and work with him because he's got some new ideas and different things that might help me.

A phone call Baertschi wasn't expecting to receive over the summer came from Mark DePasquale, the Flames equipment manager, who told him that he had to switch numbers.

"I was shocked," said Baertschi, who opted to turn in his old No. 47 for No. 27, which the last few years had been worn by Derek Smith. "I know there's a few people around here that have my jerseys so I was wondering what's going to happen with them, can they switch the '4' to a '2' for free? I was worried about the fans but in the end, I was like hey, that's a cool thing."

"For me, I feel different out there. I'm more comfortable because it's my third year coming in to camp, I'm not as nervous any more," Baertschi says. "I feel like I have a little freedom, but I'm also trying to adjust my game from what I've learned before. Overall, I think I'm making steps forward and that's the important part."

With Treliving in place and a clean slate for Baertschi, he looks forward to making a good first impression.

"I take every season as a new start anyway because you have so much time in the summer to get better at your game and then you can come into camp and surprise a lot of people," he says. "With (Treliving) now, it's huge for me as we've been talking a lot and I think he's really given me confidence."

"I'm preparing, of course, to be in Calgary's line-up as soon as the season starts but in the end, I want to be a reliable player," Baertschi says. "I want to make sure I show that I've learned from the past, that I understand the game better and that I'm a more complete NHL player."

[Igster]

How can you not love a guy that worries about what the fans are going to do with their jerseys with the wrong number? Awesome.

[JiriHrdina]

Hayes had become a must read for me kinda out of nowhere.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Igster

How can you not love a guy that worries about what the fans are going to do with their jerseys with the wrong number? Awesome.

We got a good group of guys. I can imagine Johnny having the same reaction to being offered #13.

[Oil Stain]

So I guess Baertschi is making the team if they are giving him a permanent number before camp starts?